Borough of Wanaque Recreation Winter Newsletter
First, let me start off by wishing everyone a very happy and safe Holiday season. It’s hard to believe that 2026 is not too far away.
2025 was a very busy year for Wanaque Recreation with not just our sport programs, but with many other events, programs or projects
Events or programs we added or participated with this year were; Traditional Kung Fu for kids, Diamond Art class, NY Jets game, Yankee game, Devils game, two casino trips, Broadway play, National Night Out, Concerts, Indoor Movies, Snow Tubing, our Summer Camp, Trunk or Treat, Egg Hunt and more.
Our recreation center is as busy as ever. Pickleball five days a week with six different times to play, fitness classes, indoor soccer (adult and youth), Open Gym Basketball, Rec/Travel Basketball(seasonal), Walking Club, Wrestling Room (seasonal), Kung Fu classes, and more
Projects completed; Back Beach lighting has been changed to the new LED lighting system, the Back Beach parking lot and two walkways were newly paved, Memorial Fields large baseball field was newly filled with clay and graded.
Looking ahead to projects in 2026; The tennis courts at Back Beach will be resurfaced and repainted with two tennis courts and four pickleball courts/ Laurie Field will be turning into two new outdoor Pickleball courts. We are looking into having a small walking track and exercise equipment as well and possibly a small playground.
Recreation is always looking for new ideas, within reason, to keep our youth and adults busy. Should anyone have any ideas, present them to us and we will take your idea into consideration. Keep in mind, whatever idea you may come up with will need to have someone to run the event or program. Be prepared to be asked to help with your idea.
WINTER DIAMOND ART CLASS:
On Monday December 29th 10am-2pm, Diamond Art Instructor Bridget will be holding a 4-hour Diamond Art Class. We know that 4 hours of Diamond Art is a lot, that’s why we spiced it up.
For $15/child ages 7-12 (boy or girl), we will hold 2 hours of Diamond Art, have a pizza lunch with drinks and snacks, then whoever wants to go back to Diamond Art may due so, otherwise we will be doing sing a long, karaoke, and play some games.
For more information go to our recreation website.
To register go to wanaquerec.ticketbud.com
Traditional Kung Fu for Kids
Boys and Girls ages 6-12
Instructor Johnny will lead your child in this Traditional Kung Fu class. Johnny has been here at the rec center for 6 months now holding the classes.
There are two 11-week sessions to choose from or you can join for all 22. Sessions are held at the Wanaque Rec Center on Thursdays from 4:15pm – 5:15pm.
1st sessions: Jan 8th until March 26th
2nd sessions: April 2nd until June 25th
Each 11-week session is $110
Join both and get a discount. Both sessions $200
Register on wanaquerec.ticketbud.com
Travel Basketball teams have begun their season so far in good fashion.
Rec Basketball has started their practices and games will start after the new year. We are looking to have a great season.
The clinic basketball season gets started after the new year.
Basketball Picture Day is Sunday January 11th. Check the website for your scheduled times
Basketball All Stars will once again be held at the Wanaque Rec Center on Friday February 27th starting with the skills competition. Then on Saturday February 28th, LET THE GAMES BEGIN.
Wanaque Recreation would like to thank our Basketball Director, Shanna Urgo, and all of the volunteer coaches for stepping up and helping coach a team. Without you all, there would be no basketball season.
INDOOR SOCCER
Recreation will be holding an Indoor Winter Soccer program. This program is held on Saturday mornings starting in January and will finish up on March 7th
Who can register? Boys and Girls Pre K, K, 1st, 2nd grades
Pre K & K Boys 10am – 10:45am Pre K & K Girls 10:50am – 11:35am
1st & 2nd Grade Coed 11:40am – 12:25pm
Cost: $25
This is an instructional program. Register on the bluesombrero.com website. Contact Remy for questions. Thank you to Remy and the coaches who help make this happen.
INDOOR ADULT SOCCER
This program will start on Saturday January 3rd h from 8am – 10am
This is a COED program for any adult over the age of 18.
There is no registration for this program. It is a show/pay/play
Cost: $5/week
SNOW TUBING
Friday February 6th 2026, 8pm – 10pm we will be hitting the hills at Campgaw Mountain
There are only 25 tickets available for the price of $29/ticket.
To purchase your ticket and to fill out the waiver, go to wanaquerec.ticketbud.com.
PLEASE NOTE THAT NO ONE UNDER THE HEIGHT OF 48” WILL BE PERMITTED ON THE HILL. STAFF WILL CHECK THEIR HEIGHT AT THE ENTRANCE.
WRESTLING
The Lakeland Jr Wrestling program has begun its season with practices and upcoming scrimmages. The wrestling program will be looking to take down their opponents during their weekly matches.
Lakeland Jr program hosts the State Qualifier tournament in February. The weigh-ins are held at the rec center on Saturday January 31st with the State Qualifier being held at the Lakeland High School gym on Sunday February 1st
To see the full match schedule, go to our recreation website (wanaquerecreation.com) and search under events. There are no locations listed yet for the away matches. They will be as we are notified and we will update the site.
Thank you to ALL of the Jr Westling coaches for giving your time to help coach within our program. Without all of you, there would be no program.
Too cold outside for you to Walk? We have the solution. Come indoors at the recreation center and walk around our gym. It’s heated! And, if you do not have any ear buds to listen to music, we have you covered, we have a speaker and can play any type of music you would like to listen to.
Go to the rec website under events to see the walking days and hours.
We all know that the Holidays bring more than family together or presents. It may bring a few extra unwanted pounds. Well, recreation can help you out with that.
We have several Fitness Classes for you to choose from to help get you back into that shape you are looking for. The best part of this is, we do not charge an arm and a leg to join.
Classes:
Monday 10:30am-11:15am Head to Toe– which is in and out of chair yoga. You will use light weights, stretch band and balance ball
Monday 12pm Chair Yoga
Tuesday 6pm Yoga
Wednesday 10am Zumba Gold -come dance to medium paced music such as Elvis, Taylor, Frank Sinatra etc.
Saturday 9am-9:45am Cardio– come join this fast-paced fitness class to help with the cardio part of your workout.
ALL classes are held at the Wanaque Rec Center
You can register online or just walk in for a $5 walk in fee except for the Cardio class
Cardio is an $8 walk in fee. If you register online for these classes, they are $5 per class
Register at wanaquerec.ticketbud.com
DID SOMEONE ASK FOR PICKLEBALL???
At the recreation center we have on a daily basis, three indoor pickleball courts. When the wrestling season is over, we will have our fourth pickleball court available.
Right now, the pickleball sessions are all adult 18+. When we have more interest in youth pickleball, we will add more sessions in the afternoons.
Pickleball is played Monday – Friday with Friday having two separate sessions.
Monday 7:30pm – 9:30pm (must register online) limited space available
Tues 1pm – 3pm/ Wed 2:30pm-4pm/ Thurs 10am-12pm are all part of one registration. This is the most competitive sessions we have. (must register online) very limited space
Friday 11am-12:30pm (must register online) limited space available
Friday 8pm-10pm Open Pickleball $5 walk in fee
COED OPEN GYM BASKETBALL
Come on down to the rec center on Wednesday nights 8pm-10pm and play some hoops. Sides are chosen before the games get started. $5 walk in fee
LAKELAND JR SOFTBALL 2026 SPRING REGISTRATION
Grades 1st through 9th
Join the thrill of girls’ softball. The mission is to nurture young players in a supportive environment while enhancing softball skills, and building character
Registration Opens January 2nd
Registration Ends March 1st
Early bird registration is open until January 9th
Register at: leagues.bluesombrero.com/lakelandjrsoftballlittleleague
Lakeland Jr Softball Winter Training
Rookies and Minors
Jan 11th – Jan 25th 9:00-10:30am
Feb 8th – March 29th 8:30-10:30am
Cost: $100
Majors and Juniors
Feb 8th – March 29th 8:30-10:30am
- Cost: $100
Sessions will be held at the Lakeland HS gym
Contact softball president Tim Lanni for more info
REMINDER: TO SEE ALL OF RECREATIONS HAPPENINGS, GO TO OUR WEBSITE wanaquerecreation.com
Check it out. The amount of information on there, will not disappoint
LAKELAND JR SOCCER
The Lakeland Jr Soccer Spring Registration is NOW OPEN!!!
It is open to players born 2008-2019
Visit www.lakelandjrsoccer.org and select “Registration Info” to sign up
Contact Jr Soccer at info@lakelandjrsoccer.org with any questions
Congratulations to our Lakeland Jr Soccer Fall Season Flight Champions!
U9B Red, U10B Red, U11B Red, U10G Red, and U10G Gray
Wanaque Little League Baseball
Registration will be opening up in January. More info to follow. Look for the flyer through the schools
WE WILL BE PLANNING A YANKEES GAME SOON. KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR
MORE INFORMATION
THIS IS A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OF THOSE WHO ARE INVOLVED WITH THEIR CHILD IN OUR RECREATION PROGRAMS. WITHOUT YOU REGISTERING YOUR CHILD AND GETTING THEM TO THE PRACTICES AND GAMES, WE WOUKLD NOT HAVE ANY SPORTS PROGRAMS. IT IS ALSO A THANK YOU TO ALL THE COACHES WHO GIVE UP THEIR FREE TIME TO COACH NOT ONLY THEIR OWN CHILD, BUT YOURS AS WELL.
IT IS A BIG THANK YOU TO THE BOROUGH OF WANAQUE AND THE WANAQUE DPW FOR SUPPORTING THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT
IT IS ALSO A THANK YOU TO THE RECREATION CHAIRMAN AND COMMISSION FOR SEVERAL REASONS;
1)THEY HELP TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SPORT THEY ARE IN CHARGE OF, RUNS SMOOTHLY AND TO ASSURE THAT ANY PROBLEMS ARE DEALT WITH. YOUR CHAIRMAN, REMY, AND I ARE WORKING TIRELESSLY TO ASSURE THAT WE HAVE EVERYTHING IN PLACE FOR THE RESIDENTS TO MAKE THINGS EASY TO FIGURE OUT. WE ARE ALWAYS COMING UP WITH DIFFERENT AND NEW IDEAS TO KEEP EVERYONE INTERESTED WITH OUR RECREATION DEPARTMENT.
2) EVERY YEAR FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW, MYSELF AND THE RECREATION COMMISSION GET TOGETHER TO MAKE AND DELIVER HOLIDAY MEALS TO THOSE WHO ARE LESS FORTUNATE. THIS YEAR WE HELPED BRING 13 FAMILIES A LITTLE SMILE WHILE WE DELIVERED THE MEALS. THERE IS NO BETTER FEELING THAN TO HELP OTHERS AND TO SEE THEM SMILE
THIS NEWSLETTER IS RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED BY
PAUL JOHANNEMANN
BOROUGH OF WANAQUE RECREATION DIRECTOR
